Leon Spinks

[sonnyboyx2]

Could Leon Spinks compete in the 2000-2015 era

[The Old LefHook]

Could Leon Spinks compete in the 2000-2015 era

He would need to roid up like they did.

[jaded]

No way...apart from being to small he really didn't have much of an impressive career...he mostly rode his notoriety for his SD win virtually out of nowhere as a pro over a totally ill-prepared Ali. He ever had another noteworthy win after that.

[rightsideup]

leon got beat badly by the cream of two divisions in Holmes and Qwai but I also in a bit of trivia besides the ali fights remember him as beating nba center Marcin Gortat's father in the 76 Olympics.

[J-champ]

Looking back at Leon's losses it is hard to see him doing well but he was once a good fighter. Partied too much however.

[Ray Corso]

Spinks was the All Marine Champ, All service Champ, USA Champ.
He defeat (stopped) Sixto Seria in the Olypmic finals Cuba's outstanding
World Amateur Champion.
With less than 10 fights bests Ali to become the pro World Champion.
Now tell me how many people could do that???

Leon had weak inexperienced people behind him and he wasn't a good student of business either.
I personally think that Leon is the most tragic man that ever fought in a pro boxing ring. He was taken advantage of and brutalized more than once.
The people who handled him the last few years of his career should be horse whipped!

Leon was well schooled, could punch hard and had a great work rate and chin. A nicer guy you couldn't find and just think how two brother wind up on the USA team and both win Gold Medals!! I love Leon to bad his people didn't love him too.

Ray Corso

[Ben Bolt]

Spinks was the All Marine Champ, All service Champ, USA Champ.
He defeat (stopped) Sixto Seria in the Olypmic finals Cuba's outstanding
World Amateur Champion.

On my top 10 of memorable amateur fights ?Spinks v Soria - back in those days when amateur boxing was really fun to watch.
The Cuban was a feared fighter and heavily favored to capture the gold.

[Ray Corso]

Soria at that time was the heaviest favorite even over Teo. Leon had good techniques he just didn't look like Leonard or Davis when he threw them.
He had a killer left hook and power in both hands, that win was huge for the team then.
Mr. Nappi was the head coach and his philosophy was to use laterial movement then attack with combinations which was simular to the Cuban idiology.

[juggernaut666]

Leon would do terrible as a HW in any era post 60's...he couldn't even beat a 78 old Ali who should never had been allowed to fight at that point even in a rematch or get by Gerry Coetzer..He was a light heavyweight trying to be successful at Hw,...Maybe in the 40's and 50's he would do well because Hw's would be around his size....the big boys of boxing chewed him up.In the current era he wouldn't last long at all.This is a good thread showing why weight classes are installed.Leon with a straight head would be good fight for anybody below cruiserweight not as a HW,thats just reality.He is usually ranked in the top 10 worst Hw's of all time,at least Primo Carnera will keep him from getting the number one spot.

[Ben Bolt]

He is usually ranked in the top 10 worst Hw's of all time,at least Primo Carnera will keep him from getting the number one spot.

Unlike being a keyboard warrior, it takes guts to enter a ring, and no boxer stepping between the ropes with the aim of doing his/hers best, deserves being on a 'worst' list.